John Baird calls off sale of pricey Canadian art by Foreign Affairs Department

The Foreign Affairs Department says it will not be selling off parts of its fine art collection to save money.

Minister’s John Baird’s office responded Monday to a story from The Canadian Press that said the department was going to auction off works from Riopelle, Borduas, Kurelek and others that had been housed in embassies, consulates and official residences.

The paintings were to go to public institutions and museums at a discounted rate, according to documents cited in the report.

“We have no plans to sell these paintings. The documents referred to in The Canadian Press story date to 2010 . . . a proposal which the current minister has decided not to execute,” Baird spokesman Joseph Lavoie said in an email.

The talk of auctioning off artwork comes as Foreign Affairs is closing outposts as part of wider government cutbacks.